34 Circe Salon -- Make Matriarchy Great Again -- Disrupting History

A belated season-end thank you from the 34 Circe Salon to all of our listeners!  We concluded the 2023-2024 season with our Medusa episode and we'll be back again in October for the 2024-2025 season.  We're already recording, so get ready for discussions of all of your favorite topics from warrior women and goddesses to stuntwomen and Bad Marthas.  Thank you to all of you around the world who have supported us! 

You'll hear from us in a few weeks as we all Make Matriarchy Great Again!

In this episode, we delve into the matriarchal reinterpretation of the Medusa myth, contrasting it with the traditional patriarchal narrative of Ancient Greece. Starr Goode, Miriam Robbins Dexter and Joan Marler each bring their unique insights and years of scholarship to our understanding of this famous legend.

Starr Goode is a noted writer and teacher as well as a scholar of matriarchal history with a particular emphasis on the Sheela na gig symbols.

Miriam Robbins Dexter, Ph.D., holds a B.A. in Classics and a Ph.D. in Indo-European Studies (comparative linguistics, archaeology and mythology), from the University of California, Los Angeles. 

Joan Marler is the Founder and Executive Director of the Institute of Archaeomythology.  She worked closely with Marija Gimbutas as her personal editor from 1987-1994 and lectures internationally on Prof. Gimbutas’ life and work.  

We will explore how Medusa's image as a monstrous figure has been transformed into a symbol of female empowerment and resistance. Drawing from feminist theory and historical analysis, we discuss the evolution of her story from a cautionary tale of male dominance to a rallying cry for women's autonomy and strength. Join us as we unravel the layers of Medusa's legacy and its significance in modern feminist discourse.

Dawn "Sam" Alden and Sean Marlon Newcombe co-host.

Join Lauren Torres and Dawn "Sam' Alden as they welcome author Molly Remer and discuss (and praise) the Goddess Persephone.

Goddess of spring and Queen of the Underworld, the myths of Persephone are familiar in the Western World.  In this episode, as always, we examine this goddess using a matriarchal rather than patriarchal lens. We also view Persephone from a more personal standpoint, with the work of Ms. Remer as a guide.

In her book, Walking with Persephone, Ms. Remer weaves together personal insights and reflections with experiences in practical priestessing, family life, and explorations of the natural world and how the tales of Persephone have helped her. 

Come along with us and praise another goddess!

Just a brief message to our sponsors from the newest members of the 34 Circe Make Matriarchy Great Again family, Lauren Torres and Kimberly Rockwell.  Thank you all for your support and we look forward to bringing you more exciting matriarchal content in the coming seasons!

Taking care of new mothers by restoring their health through rest, bodywork, and nourishing foods can be found in every society, most in the not so distant past.  Why then does it become all about the new baby that has arrived?  Why don't we think of offering care and support to the parents?  New mothers are born into a new role and ceremonies like Closing the Bones help her transition into a new identity while also restoring her body.  Join us as we talk with Dr Sophie Messager - experienced perinatal educator, healer, retired doula and former research scientist about the four common (and global) elements of postnatal recovery.  Sophie's commitment and passion to educate birth professionals and families on the importance of the postnatal care of mothers has transformed the life of many women, laying the ground for healthy women and healthy families. Author of the book "Why Postnatal Recovery Matters." you can find Sophie at sophiemessager.com, and on Instagram @sophie_messager.

Join Dawn "Sam" Alden and Kimberly Rockwell as they discuss the female revenge film Peppermint (2018). 

Starring Jennifer Garner, Peppermint tells the story of woman whose happy life is destroyed when a drug cartel kills her husband and daughter. The event turns her into a vigilante and she will not be satisfied until she has her revenge.

Our hosts discuss not only the creative quality of the film, but also what it says about our culture's view of the intersection of gender, ethnicity and power.

We're back with the long-awaited follow-up discussion to our foundational episode on Amazons and Matriarchy.  In Part I, we discussed the movements of the Old Europe matriarchies in the third millennium B.C., as well as Vicki's concept of the "Double-Goddess," its significance for matriarchy and it's connection with the Amazons. 

In this episode we pick up in the second millennium B.C., and discuss the final eras of the matriarchies of Old Europe and the rise and end of what could be called the "resistance movement" of bands of warrior women called "Amazons."  

Vicki Noble, once again, leads the way and shares her knowledge of Amazons and the Matriarchal world from which they'd sprung.  Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden host.

Has it been four years already? Why, yes, it has! Join us as we celebrate our fourth anniversary and take a trip down memory lane.  Favorite episodes and stories from Dawn, Sean, Laruen and Kimberly... and a VERY BIG thanks to all of our listeners!

They are the daring action women that we all adore, but what is it really like to be a stuntwoman? Join us for a really fun discussion with four Hollywood stuntwomen: Katie Rowe is the head of the Hollywood Stuntwomen's Association and an amazing stuntwoman of more than two decades.  Angela Meryl is also legendary stuntwoman who has doubled such luminaries as Beyonce and Viveca Fox.  Indus Alelia a stuntwoman who has worked on several independent movies and is renown for her fire stunts.  Devavani Conroy is a stuntwoman and actress who is fairly new on her stuntwoman journey and already making a name for herself.  

All four women represent the best of the stuntwoman community.

Join us as we celebrate these female action heroes!

Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden co-host.

In preparation for our upcoming part 2 episode, we bring you the uncut version of part 1 of Vicki Noble's discussion of the matriarchal origins of the women called "Amazons."  This was the first episode that we recorded for our "Make Matriarchy Great Again" podcast and you can tell as we're still introducing ourselves to all of you. :-)

Here we go... The first installment in our series on the birth of the historical women called "Amazons." Who were their ancestors? Where did they come from? We talk about the destruction of the Old Europe matriarchy by the warrior men from the Eurasian steppes and how it was the spark that produced the matriarchal resistance movement of the Amazons. The concept of an "Amazon" begins to develop as the millennia pass and the descendants of the Old Europe matriarchies are forced to take up arms to protect their people and culture. 

Vicki Noble leads the way and shares her extensive knowledge of the era. Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden host.